As soon as poles and cables are installed at the Conifer Community Park at Beaver Ranch and all safety measures are in place, adventurers can don a harness that’s attached to a cable and zigzag over the forest.
Welcome to Zipline Adventures.
“You connect yourself and the harness onto the trolley and glide over the valley, kind of like Superman,” said owner Stefan Van der Steen. “It’s quite a bit of fun.”
His company, an offshoot of Denver Adventures, was installing the poles and platforms and checking the braking system last week. The staff hopes to open in mid-July.
“The exciting thing is that it’s going to be the closest zipline tour to Denver,” Van der Steen said.
The board of directors for the nonprofit Conifer Community Center, which manages the park, was attracted to the fact that the project has only a limited impact on the forest.
The operator will require reservations and will take participants to the site, so little traffic impact is anticipated.
“One of the things it’s important for us to do is find ways (to use the space) that are low-impact, fit in with (Jefferson County) Open Space guidelines and bring income to the property to help us keep it open,” said Janet Shown, executive director of the board overseeing the park. “Zip line fit into that really well.”
The park is owned by Jeffco Open Space, and funding comes from activity fees, cabin and conference rentals, camps and donations.
Shown said the park will get a percentage of the fee charged for each person.
And because the area is owned by Open Space and is not surrounded by residences, Jefferson County Director of Planning and Zoning John Wolforth said he waived the usual submittal requirements. The planning commission OK’d the site approval on May 25.
“Everyone we’ve talked to is saying, ‘I’m going to come out and try it,’ ” said Ron McInnis, president of the Conifer Community Center Board of Directors. “We have had 100 percent positive feedback.”
McInnis said Van der Steen’s company is building the structure, so the only expense to the center is insurance.
He added: “It’s a great way to give exposure to Conifer and the park.”
Karen Groves: 303-954-2303 or grovesk@yourhub.com
